Georgia-Based Nonprofit Expands to Alabama with Community Care Initiative

Administrator Zipporah Brown, 23, CEO Chaunicy Brown, 29, Vice President Mecaria Brown, 18, and Treasurer Hailey Brown, 17, build 100 beds for children in need with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9709 in Macon, Ga.

Courtesy of Hands for Heart Corporation Staff

ANNISTON — Hands for Hearts is expanding to Alabama and will host its Community Care Day July 25 at Zinn Park.

Hands for Hearts is a nonprofit organization based in Macon, Ga., which specializes in helping less fortunate families. The organization was founded by CEO Chaunicy Brown in 2019, and is family-based. Brown wants to expand outreach to communities by moving the organization’s headquarters to Alabama, making Georgia its second location. 

Community Care Day is an event where the organization partners with different businesses and organizations to provide for the homeless in the surrounding area. These items include clothing, shoes, and toiletries, according to Brown. This will be the first event for the organization in Alabama. Brown aims to have Community Care Day in all areas of Alabama once it is more established, according to Brown. 

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be shoes or anything of that sort, but anything that you find would be a necessity for them. We’ve had people donate tents for them to sleep in,” said Brown. 

Hands for Hearts, a Macon, Ga., nonprofit helping vulnerable families, will expand to Alabama with its first Community Care Day July 25 at Zinn Park. 

Hands for Hearts, a Macon, Ga., nonprofit helping vulnerable families, will expand to Alabama with its first Community Care Day July 25 at Zinn Park. 

Courtesy of Hands for Heart Corporation Staff

The name of the organization was inspired by Brown’s mother, whose biggest dream was to always give back to those in need, especially during holidays, according to Brown. Brown’s family was able to get their home built by the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity.

“I come from a family of nine, we grew up in the projects and weren’t looking for the most expensive things. We didn’t care for the designer bags, but we were fortunate enough to get our family home built,” said Brown. 

Brown emphasizes that she loves to give back and help people, something she learned from her mother. She states that when her mother was no longer able to help people herself, God gave the gift of helping to her.

“Everyone has hands, but are you willing to lend them? It takes people with a good heart to be able to help those that are in need,” said Brown. 

Hands for Hearts operates several programs aimed at supporting vulnerable individuals and families. Community Engagement and Outreach connects underserved residents with resources. Youth and Family Empowerment provides mentorship and support services designed to strengthen families, according to its website. 

Hands for Hearts, a Macon, Ga., nonprofit helping vulnerable families, will expand to Alabama with its first Community Care Day July 25 at Zinn Park.

Hands for Hearts, a Macon, Ga., nonprofit helping vulnerable families, will expand to Alabama with its first Community Care Day July 25 at Zinn Park. 

Courtesy of Hands for Heart Corporation Staff

Other initiatives include Health and Wellness, offering health education, screenings, and access to supportive services. The nonprofit also runs the Toys of Hope Program, which provides new toys to children in need during holidays, and Reentry and Restoration, which helps individuals returning from incarceration with job placement, housing guidance and reintegration support, according to its website. 

Additional programs include Shadow to Shine, bringing youth and seniors together through creative expression; Legacy of Care, which supports veterans with career transition assistance, mental health resources and financial planning; and Prospered Path, which offers resume development, career mentorship and financial literacy training, according to the Hands for Hearts website. 

The organization also operates The Ascent Group Project, which provides support for individuals navigating divorce, separation or loss of a spouse; The Solo-Parent Bridge, which provides supplies, mentorship and practical support for single parents; and Strength After Silence, which assists survivors of domestic and sexual abuse through crisis resources and advocacy, according to its website.

“We’re going to try and extend their needs and requests to other organizations that will actually be able to help them,” said Brown. 

Hands for Hearts is partnering with 2nd Chance Inc. for the Strength After Silence Program, in hopes of bridging connections to their Shadow to Shine program, according to Brown. 2nd Chance Inc. provides emergency shelter, counseling, safety planning, document replacement and presentations on the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence and abuse, according to their website.

“Everybody can’t do the same job, but we can all do what we can to make the job easier,” said Brown.